Pelargonium plant named ‘KLEPZ07197’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant particularly characterized by an upright plant habit with good vigor and a rounded bushy plant habit, light lavender flowers with pink eyes and leaves that are tolerant to rain, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Pelargonium zonale.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPZ07197’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘KLEPZ07197’. ‘KLEPZ07197’ wasdiscovered as a seedling resulting from a cross in July 2002 inStuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Pelargonium parent,‘KLEP01012’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,743) and the proprietary malePelargonium plant, ‘klesail’ (unpatented). A single plant selection wassubsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Stuttgart, Germany and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart,Germany over a 4 and one-half-year period. ‘KLEPZ07197’ has been foundto retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Switzerlandon Apr. 23, 2007 and in Canada on Mar. 30, 2007. ‘KLEPZ07197’ has notbeen made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal commercialpractices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. An upright plant habit, with good vigor and a rounded, bushy        plant habit;    -   2. Light lavender flowers with pink eyes; and    -   3. Leaves that are tolerant to rain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photograph is of a plant about 3-months old and grownfrom rooted cuttings in a 12-cm pot under greenhouse (glasshouse) inStuttgart, Germany under conditions which approximate those generallyused in commercial practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPZ07197’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on 3-month old,un-pinched plants in 12-cm pots in a greenhouse in January throughApril. The color readings were determined under natural light. Colorreferences are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Geraniacaea.        -   Species.—Pelargonium zonale.        -   Common name.—Pelargonium (Geranium), zonal geranium.        -   Denomination.—‘KLEPZ07197’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Pelargonium parent,            ‘KLEP01012’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,743).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Pelargonium parent,            ‘klesail’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Height.—28 cm to 34 cm.        -   Spread.—30 cm.        -   Life cycle.—Perennial, but usually treated as an annual.        -   Form.—Rounded, bushy.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—16 to 18 days.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately 80 days.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—RHS 137D.        -   Pubescence.—Present.        -   Stem form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 1.4 cm.        -   Length.—6.0 cm to 17.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.8 cm to 1.5 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Typical of geraniums, kidney-shaped.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Open.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Surface texture (both sides).—Dull with very short            pubescence.        -   Length.—6.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Width.—8.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 5.0 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm to 0.2 cm. Color:            RHS 137C. Texture: Rough, slightly pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 137C.        -   Zonation.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—15 days.        -   Umbels.—Length: 6.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Diameter: 12.0 cm.        -   Individual florets of the umbel.—Depth: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.            Diameter: 4.5 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Cluster shape.—Umbelliferous.        -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire, smooth. Color: RHS 137C.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—6 to 8.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2.2 cm.        -   Width.—1.8 cm.        -   Color of lobes.—Upper lobes: Upper surface: Main color is            RHS 76B with an RHS 74B eye. Lower surface: RHS 76D. Lower            lobes: Upper surface: Main color is RHS 76B with an RHS 74B            eye. Lower surface: RHS 76D.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 137C.        -   Length.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—12.0 cm to 17.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Anther length: 0.3 cm. Filament length: 0.6 cm.            Filament color: RHS 65C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: RHS 33B.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Stigma color: RHS 74C. Style length:            0.5 cm. Style color: RHS 155D. Ovary arrangement:            Club-shaped.-   Fruit/seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular disease or insect    resistance noted.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘KLEPZ07197’ differs from the female parent, the proprietary femalePelargonium parent, ‘KLEP01012’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,743) in that‘KLEPZ07197’ has green leaves and lavender flowers with pink eyes, while‘KLEP01012’ has darker green leaves and purple and light-pink bi-coloredflowers. Additionally, ‘KLEPZ07197’ has a more vigorous growth habitthan ‘KLEP01012’.

‘KLEPZ07197’ differs from the male parent, the proprietary Pelargoniumplant ‘klesail’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEPZ07197’ has green leaves andlavender flowers with dark pink eyes, while ‘klesail’ has darker greenleaves and white flowers.

‘KLEPZ07197’ differs from the commercial comparison variety ‘klegrato’(unpatented and also known as ‘katinka’) in that ‘KLEPZ07197’ has alighter flower color, better branching and a more vigorous growth habitthan ‘klegrato’.

‘KLEPZ07197’ differs from the commercial comparison variety ‘klekit’(unpatented and also known as ‘kitty’) in that ‘KLEPZ07197’ has lavenderflowers with pink eyes, while ‘klekit’ has lavender flowers with purpleeyes. Additionally, ‘KLEPZ07197’ has lighter green leaves and a morevigorous growth habit than ‘klekit’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant as shown anddescribed herein.